Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Ithaca, NY
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Ithaca, NY metro area earn a median of $34,800 a year ($16.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 870 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,900 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 1% lower than the New York statewide median of $35,250. There are 18 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $36,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Ithaca, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 25th percentile | $33,810 | $16.26 |
| Median | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| 75th percentile | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,900 | $20.14 |
| Average (mean) | $36,430 | $17.52 |
Half of fast food and counter workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,900 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,450 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,338.46 |
| Weekly | $669.23 |
| Hourly | $16.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | $35,460 | 1,440 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,420 | 166,040 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $35,320 | 6,280 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $34,560 | 14,170 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $34,060 | 7,190 |
| Syracuse, NY | $33,940 | 6,750 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $33,890 | 980 |
| Rochester, NY | $33,430 | 11,310 |
| Binghamton, NY | $33,280 | 2,440 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $33,080 | 2,260 |
| Elmira, NY | $32,950 | 880 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $32,580 | 1,150 |
Highest-paying states for fast food and counter workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $42,280 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
See Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in every state or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ithaca, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Bartender | $44,040 | $21.18 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $39,280 | $18.89 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,780 | $22.49 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,140 | $17.37 |
| Dishwasher | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,870 | $22.53 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,010 | $30.78 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,690 | $16.68 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter workers make in Ithaca, NY?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Ithaca, NY metro area is $34,800 a year, or $16.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Ithaca, NY?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Ithaca, NY metro area earn at least $41,900 a year. The top 25% earn $37,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Ithaca, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,240 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $33,810 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Ithaca, NY?
About 870 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Ithaca, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.